Michel Hugo ASC passed away this morning. For anyone who isn't familiar with Mr. Hugo's work is, please take a look at the following IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0401066/. I had the privilege to know Mr. Hugo on account of his semi annual visits to Mole-Richardson in Hollywood. I'd like to share my thoughts on what Mr. Hugo meant to me.
Michel always laughed. He had a french accent and always seemed to have a little chuckle following each sentence. I always looked forward to Mr. Hugo's visits because he'd always bring 2 van load to kids to Hollywood from UNLV in las Vegas (a 4 hour drive) so the kids would 10 always be looking forward to the visit to Mole and 2) he was always on time. He was kind and patient and had nothing by pure love and passion for film making. "I suppose that when you've been through 60 years of the industry and are still in it like Larry and Richard Kline and Michel Hugo then all you have is passion for it," my brother Joe once said. it is completely true and I always told myself that if I had the 10th of the passion that someone like like Mr. Hugo has when i am his age then i have done much more than "alright". Mr. Hugo loved making movies and he loved teaching. he and Larry Parker, my mentor in lighting, have and will always have a common bond. They love to see that glimmer f understanding in a young film maker's eyes; that explosion of "woooow" and wonder that flashes when you see something amazing for the first time. It's the same sparkle that I get every time i step onto a back lot or see a production truck drive by.
There is an amazing transition that happens when an older profession passes on knowledge to our younger generation. I remember once realizing that the 100+ year history of film making was being transitioned to me at a singular moment, embodies in the telling of a story by Mr. Hugo. He once told me and the class that the most expensive light meter/director's view finder we would ever pay for was not only in the palm of our hand but what's, in fact, the palm of our hands. He held his fist up to his eye so he could look through a barely closed fist and see the scene. "And the contrast and aspect ratio are already built in" be snickered in his smooth french-American with a laugh.
What he taught us wads that you didn't have to spend a lot of money on the latest meters and gear but that the the creativity would come from within and that it was incredibly fun. All of a sudden I realized that as a young person in the industry it was my responsibility to take this information and collect it to be transferred to the next young generation of film makers when i am old enough to pass it on. What I learned from Michel was don't ever be afraid to teach, to share and to pass on knowledge. knowledge is the single most important tool that us film makers have and it is the our gift to have and our gift to share. I love what I do and i am honored to have known Mr, Hugo and learn from him. i will do my best to teach others and to pass on what he has passed on to me and to show anyone who wants to be in this industry the same kindness and understanding that he showed me and his other students.
Mr. Hugo, vous nous avez beaucoup manqué.
PhillM tip-of-the-day:
Use a Lighting Control Grid Egg-crate on your 6x6, 8x8, 121x12 etc rags. It's a cloth egg crate that strings up to the same frame as your rag and it eliminates a lot of the spill light and really directs your soft source. I will never use a butterfly set without it!
